The coaching market has grown exponentially over recent years, evolving from a small niche into a huge global industry.
With everything from life coaching to sports coaching and more on offer, it’s no surprise that the business market has caught on to this lucrative trend, with many companies and individuals now offering executive coaching.
Today, there’s an executive coach to suit everyone, but finding the solution that suits your needs in this crowded market can be a challenge. To help, we’ve put together a list of some of the most common types of executive coaches on the market currently.
Business Mentors
One of the most prevalent types of executive coach is the business mentor. They provide support for junior team members and rising corporate visionaries, so that they can flourish and achieve their career goals. For many senior team members, this might not be the ideal choice, but you could give back to your industry or organisation by becoming a business mentor yourself. If you’re interested in becoming a business mentor, then check out the ILM Level 7 Qualifications from The BCF Group to learn more about how you can become a qualified mentor and help your industry peers to emulate your success. These courses are specifically designed for senior leaders who offer regular coaching.
Business Consultancy
Slightly different from a traditional coach, a business consultant supports an organisation and helps it to overcome the challenges it faces. They usually work with the senior team to improve efficiency, effectiveness and overall profitability. Business consultants are usually experienced in a specific market or niche, so that they can offer tailored advice and support. They often visit the business premises and provide constructive support that can help to enhance the environment. If your company is struggling and you want general insight and support, then you can consider working with an experienced business consultant.
Career Coaches
For those executives who are keen to enhance their existing career or move into a new sector, a career coach could be the perfect partner. They can review your progress so far and identify any issues that could be holding you back from achieving your professional goals. Using their experience, they can then offer you guidance on how you can overcome these challenges and make positive changes to your working life. You might think that you know all there is to know about your career and why you aren’t achieving your aims, but a career coach can offer you an experienced, unbiased perspective.
Leadership Coaches
Transitioning from being a member of a team to its leader can be a daunting experience, so work with a leadership coach to help you develop your leadership skills. If you’re already a business leader, but you’re struggling to lead specific team members or handle certain situations, then a leadership coach can provide you with the support you need to overcome your challenges. Leadership coaches benefit both the business leader and their team, so it’s worth working with one if you’re keen to become the best leader you can possibly be.
Time Management Coaches
Even experienced executives struggle to manage their workloads effectively sometimes, but if you find yourself regularly facing difficulties around time management then consider working with a time management coach. They can review your current workload and diary, then create a tailored plan designed to help you to fit everything in and still have time for yourself. By working with a time management coach, you can not only boost your personal productivity, but also improve your work/ life balance.
Life Coaches
Whilst life coaches aren’t strictly a type of executive coach, they have a lot of crossover thanks to their all-encompassing remit. Most life coaches work with individuals to overhaul their entire lives, and this includes their career. If you’re working with a life coach then they could, like a time management coach, support you in achieving the work/ life balance you desire. They might also be able to give you the support you need to improve your professional relationships, way of working, ability to embrace change and more.
A Retirement Coach
It’s easy to think that you don’t need a retirement coach, but they can help you to adjust to this major change in your life. Depending on the skills your coach has, they may also be able to assist in practical aspects of your retirement, such as financial planning. This will ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition from successful executive to happy, fulfilled retiree.
Working with an executive coach can enrich your personal and working lives, so it’s important that you choose one that’s right for you. This guide will help you to explore the different types of executive coach out there, but it’s also important that you research the individual coaches on the market to find the one that works best for you.
